How to Find Cheap Hotels in Cape Verde

A group of islands off the west coast of Senegal, Cape Verde has been a haven to pirates, a way-station for 18th century slave traffickers, a Portuguese outpost and a melting pot of African and European peoples and cultures. Today it is a lovely and relatively undeveloped tropical getaway. For a quiet visit to verdant green hillsides, pure blue ocean waters and friendly natives, Cape Verde is a good choice. However, the prevailing rates for hotel rooms here are fairly expensive so you will need to do your homework to find accommodations that are cheap.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Passport
• Map of Cape Verde
• Computer with Internet connection for making reservations

Know Your Destination

1. Watch for smoke. Mount Fogo, on the Cape Verde Island of Fogo, is an active volcano that last erupted in 1995, destroying some 5,000 homes.
2. Hit the beach. The waters off Cape Verde are very good for deep-sea fishing, and the hotels along the beach offer equipment for a variety of water sports, including windsurfing, scuba diving and parasailing. The island of Sal is one of the world's favorite surfing destinations.
3. Relax with the locals. Cape Verde residents enjoy playing Uril, a local variant of the stone-and-pits game of Mancala.

Book Your Accommodations

4. Don't expect to find tours or air packages with a Cape Verde destination. Focus on finding specific local accommodations that are cheap. To book accommodations, contact Turismo de Portugal at 011 ([phone] or visit their Web site (see Resources, below).
5. Buy local flights locally. Booking intra-island flights in Cape Verde is less expensive than buying the tickets in advance from abroad.
6. Visit several of the popular Web sites that collect travel stories and recommendations from world travelers. When you find a recommendation for cheap accommodations in Cape Verde, do some research on the person who posted the information. A glowing review from a recent visitor to the country who has a good reputation on the Web site points the way to a happy vacation for you.

Tips & Warnings

• All phone numbers include the international prefix "011." When calling internationally but not from the United States or Canada, substitute that "011" with "00." All country codes are within parentheses and begin with a "+" sign.
• Drink cautiously. Avoid non-bottled water and fresh salads so your system won't experience exotic bacteria, and go slowly if you choose to sample grogue. This local spirit is very strong.
• Carry small denominations of cash with you (but not too much!), because it can be difficult to locate an open bank, and credit cards may not work for many of the transactions you would like to make.
• Check the safety of local beaches with a local before swimming or surfing. Some Cape Verde beaches have strong currents and hidden rocks.
• Keep an eye on your valuables. Although Cape Verde is friendly and mostly safe, experienced travelers know never to behave like an easy mark.